It is a natural thing for all expecting mothers to experience changes in their bodies. Hormonal changes, pigmentation, mood swings, weight gain, swollen breasts, etc, are some symptoms which every going-to-be-mom is aware of. But apart from these there are other symptoms and changes which might occur and which you may not have been aware or informed of. Due to the hormonal changes your body might swell or gain weight as your pregnancy progresses. Most of you might be aware of the swelling of legs, but have you heard of swelling of the nose during pregnancy? Well most of you might have not, but nose swelling is a common symptom during pregnancy because of the high progesterone and oestrogen levels that affect not just the nose, but also other parts of the body.
Nose swelling occurs due to the increased estrogen levels which help blood flow to the mucous membranes and plumps up your nose as a result, hence do not worry because your nose will shrink back to its original size post delivery.
A Guide for Nose Swelling During Pregnancy
The Unusual Symptoms of Pregnancy
Like we have discussed before there are some symptoms which every woman is aware of; like weight gain, swollen legs and swollen breasts, and there are some symptoms which you might have not heard of. Here are some other uncommon symptoms that occur during pregnancy:
- Metallic taste
- Thicker and shinier hair
- Stretch marks everywhere
- Darker skin
- Nose bleed
- Pregnancy acne
- Longer or bigger feet
- Burping excessively
- Diarrhea
- Burning nipples
- Hair growth on belly
- Itching
Why Does the Nose Swell during Pregnancy?
Not many pregnant women experience nose swelling, since it is an uncommon and weird symptoms. Nose swelling during pregnancy can occur due to several reasons, they are:
- The most common cause of nose swell is the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy. Not just the nose but other parts of your body also get a little transformation.
- During the initial stage of your pregnancy, blood vessels expand to send more blood to the baby. The expanded blood vessels in sinus and nasal passage area cause the nose to swell.
- During the last trimester, water retention in the face also causes the nose swell.
- High blood pressure during pregnancy can also result in a swollen nose.
- The increased estrogen level of the body helps blood flow to the mucous membranes and plumps up your nose as a result.
- Sometimes you may also notice the color of the nose changing to a redder shade because of the changing hormone levels which influence the pigmentation in the skin.
Will the Nose Get Back to Its Normal Size and Shape?
Just like the other changes inflicted during pregnancy, the size and shape of your nose is also temporary and will get back to its previous shape and size post delivery. Since the hormonal changes are temporary, the changes caused due to it are also temporary. Usually your nose will revert back to its normal size and shape within a month to 40 days after you deliver the baby. Therefore, do not stress the temporary changes in body that occur during pregnancy.
How to Prevent Nose Swelling during Pregnancy?
Unlike certain changes that take place in your body during pregnancy, nose swelling can definitely be prevented by taking some precautions to keep the changes light and less painful. Nose swelling is rare and does not occur in all pregnant women. But if it has occurred to you then you might take precautions to decrease water retention during pregnancy. By maintaining a good amount of water intake, you can avoid water retention which in turn reduces swelling. Also make sure your blood pressure levels are balances, because high blood pressure will again result in swelling. Do not overthink or stress over little things, this will help maintain blood pressure levels. Consult your physician regularly and take proper guidance to avoid nose swelling during pregnancy.
What to Do If Your Nose Bleeds during Pregnancy?
Alone with the nose swell you might also sometimes experience nose bleeds. This is also caused due to the expanded blood vessels which make your nose soft and easy to rupture. Nosebleeds are common during pregnancy in 20 percent of pregnant women compared to 6 percent of non-pregnant women. Do the following things if you have a bloody nose during pregnancy:
- Sit down and lean forward, keeping your head higher than your heart.
- Firmly pinch the lower soft part of your nose (both nostrils) using your thumb and index finger.
- Breath through your mouth while holding your nose closed with your fingers, for 10-15 minutes.
- Apply ice on the bridge of your nose, to constrict the blood vessels and slow the bleeding.
Warning – Don’t lie down or tilt your head back: You might end up swallowing blood, which could cause nausea and vomiting or even make you accidentally inhale some blood. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 30 minutes, then get immediate help or consult a doctor.
Reference
https://www.babycenter.com0_nosebleeds-during-pregnancy_255.bc
https://www.beingtheparent.com/nose-bigger
